Band article, The Times, 26th February

There is a fairly substantial article in today's Times about brass bands in general and Carlton Main Frickley in particular. No doubt it is in the online version as well but you can find that for yourselves!

An interesting read...and a fair reflection of the state of play at the top end. I would have liked to see more positive spin about the community benefits of lower section bands. Personally, I still play in my local band (okay.. for the purists I did give up for 18 years!) and it matters to me that we turn out on Armitice Day, play carols, play at the re-opening of our local station etc. But I want all that alongside quality music making and (ideally) some contest success. We also have a training band which gives access to brass playing for new learners young and old. This all costs lots of money. Surely some funding should be available to bands without the constant hassle of applying for lottery money, with all that entails? There is a limit to how many sponsored blows and table top sales anyone can tolerate in a year!

Good luck to Carlton Main - you obviously impressed the journalist with English Heritage

Sorry but other than a brief article from my old band in London, it was all pits n politics ( banding and otherwise ).. the banding movement is never going to move on in its image unless we can loose some of the stereotyping which goes on.

An interesting read...and a fair reflection of the state of play at the top end. I would have liked to see more positive spin about the community benefits of lower section bands. Personally, I still play in my local band (okay.. for the purists I did give up for 18 years!) and it matters to me that we turn out on Armitice Day, play carols, play at the re-opening of our local station etc.

Click to expand...

I play with a top section Yorkshire band who also turn out on Armistice Day, play carols around the local villages on several days leading up to Xmas, play on Xmas Eve and Xmas day morning, play at our local church's Christmas Tree blessing ceremony, at the turning on of the tree lights at the next village on and our unique feast day the last Monday in June, where many band members book the day off work to take part in the church walk and festival that has been going for many more years than brass banding itself.

Please don't suggest that the "top end" are only interested in contest results and rankings, we also appreciate our history, where we came from and our role in the local community. It isn't just the lower section bands that offer "community benefits".

An interesting read...and a fair reflection of the state of play at the top end. I would have liked to see more positive spin about the community benefits of lower section bands. Personally, I still play in my local band (okay.. for the purists I did give up for 18 years!) and it matters to me that we turn out on Armitice Day, play carols, play at the re-opening of our local station etc. /quote]

I play with a top section Yorkshire band who also turn out on Armistice Day, play carols around the local villages on several days leading up to Xmas, play on Xmas Eve and Xmas day morning, play at our local church's Christmas Tree blessing ceremony, at the turning on of the tree lights at the next village on and our unique feast day the last Monday in June, where many band members book the day off work to take part in the church walk and festival that has been going for many more years than brass banding itself.

Please don't suggest that the "top end" are only interested in contest results and rankings, we also appreciate our history, where we came from and our role in the local community. It isn't just the lower section bands that offer "community benefits".